For many young adults, the dream is simple… Graduate from a good university, build a career, gain financial independence, and move out of the family home. In North America and Europe, this step is seen not just as a milestone, but as an expected part of becoming an adult. In recent years, this expectation has become increasingly common in Turkey as well. But just as many young people begin to take this leap, a growing number are now finding themselves moving back in with their families. Soaring rent prices, economic pressures, and unstable job markets are interrupting their path to independence. While moving out once symbolized freedom, returning home is no longer just a step backward. It’s becoming a new phase of transition.
Data from 2025 clearly shows how widespread this return has become. According to the recent “Boomerang Youth Survey” conducted by Thrivent, 46% of young adults aged 18 to 35 are currently living with their parents, either still or once again. U.S. Census Bureau data reveals that this number has jumped from 27.7% in 2000 to 50.6% in 2023. A significant increase of over 80% in just two decades. This shift can no longer be dismissed as a personal choice or a temporary phase, it’s a reflection of a major social transformation.
Several key factors are driving this trend such as skyrocketing housing costs, heavy student loans, rising living expenses, and an uncertain job market. Thrivent’s research found that 38% of parents say this situation has disrupted their retirement plans, while 39% have had to give up on their own financial goals. While intergenerational support can act as a safety net, over time it requires serious financial planning on both sides.
And this isn’t just an American phenomenon. According to the OECD’s Society at a Glance report released last year, the percentage of 20 to 29 year olds living with their parents rose from 45% in 2006 to 50% in 2022, and the trend isn’t slowing. The global economic challenges of the past three years, the uneven recovery following the pandemic, and the rising cost of living are pushing the dream of independent living further out of reach for many young people. The OECD estimates that this pattern has continued into 2025, with more young adults returning to live with their parents across many countries.
Today, moving back home isn’t just a financial necessity, it’s a societal indicator. It reflects a system that wants young people to be independent but fails to provide the flexibility or stability needed to support that independence. Instead of viewing this return as a step backward, it may be more accurate to see it as a strategic pause. A way to stay afloat and rethink the future. But for this transitional phase to lead to healthy, positive outcomes, it needs to be supported by both individual awareness and broader social understanding.
